New Delhi: Former CWG’s Organising Committee Chief Suresh Kalmadi lodged in Tihar jail for more than two months in connection with the multi-crore Commonwealth Games scam may be suffering from dementia -- a disease related to memory loss impaired reasoning and personality changes.

The worried prison authorities have said 66-year-old Kalmadi before coming to the jail was suffering from many diseases. Recently, he had a heart surgery and also was taken to the Lok Narayan Jai Prakash Hospital for an MRI test, which was termed as a routine check up by the doctors.

Kalmadi’s lawyer had, however, urged the court that the former OC chief was suffering from dementia and he should be treated for it, following which Kalmadi had got the permission for treatment.

Deputy Inspector General of Tihar Jail R N Sharma said, “Dementia at a preliminary stage was mentioned in the medical history submitted to the jail authorities by the family members of Kalmadi and soon he would be sent to the GB Pant Hospital for the treatment.” If he does not respond to treatment, Kalmadi would be sent to AIIMS, he added.

Sources said that on Saturday afternoon Kalmadi went to Deen Dayal Upadhya Hospital for treatment, where he had complained of chest pain to the department of medicines. After examination, the doctors had referred him to AIIMS.

Sources added that inside jail Kalmadi shows no sign of dementia. He is treated for diseases like hypertension, diabetics, joint pains etc inside the jail.

Noted lawyer KTS Tulsi said, “If it (dementia) had settled at the time of offence, it may have a bearing on his culpability. As per the law, a demented person suffers from a global memory loss.” If there is a memory loss at the time of the commissioning of the offence, it is not possible to have a fraudulent intention, Tulsi contended.

Tulsi also mentioned that it is a general trend of people to take such recourse to escape the trail. In such condition it needs to be established that when the disease has affected the accused. Only after that one can decide whether it will have bearing on the case.